Pin-resetting mechanism



May 6, 1952 A. M. slMPsoN PIN-RESETTING MECHANISM' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1948 NN Mw.

May 6, 1952 A. M. slMPsQN 2,595,988

PIN-RESETTING MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1948 5 ShetS-Sheei 2 L il Ihr. u.; iii- Ln Je l May 6, 1952 A. M. SIMPSON 2,595,988

` PIN-RESETTING MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1948 5 Sheets-5h86?. 3

May 6, 1952 A. M. SIMPSON `PIN-RESETTIM; MECHANISM 5 sheets-sheet 4l Filed April 3. 1948 www.

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l ill May 6, 1952 A. M. srMPsoN PIN-RESETTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April s, 1948 Patented May 6, 1952 PIN-RESETTING MECHANISM Arthur M. Simpson, Lexington, Ky., assignor to `'Ilhe Kawneer Company, Niles, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 3, 1948, Serial No. 18,806

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an automatic pin-setting mechanism for bowling alleys, and deals with the solution of the specic problem of resetting the pins left standing after the rst ball of each frame. The invention is particularly directed to the provision of an off-spot resetting mechanism, so that in the event that one or more of the pins are struck by the nrst ball in such a manner as to knock them slightly off of their designated spots, yet not overturn them, they will be replaced in the exact positions at which they came to rest. This is accomplished by the expedient of a resetting frame carrying a plurality of pin gripping devices adapted to pick up a standing pin from any point within a reasonable range of its original spot, whereby all pins left standing, including any coming to rest in an `ofispot position, will be lifted from the surface of the alley to permit the overturned pins to be swept into the pit, and will then be replaced in the precise positions they each occupied.

The applicant is aware that various attempts have been made to solve the problems involved in accomplishing this result, but is also aware that despite the numerous efforts, no successful device has heretofore been introduced to the trade. The reasons for this are manifold, and while no effort will be made to enumerate the various defects of prior devices, a full appreciation of the contribution of the present inventor requires some knowledge of the shortcomings of prior mechanisms which either (a) attempt to position the pin lifting mechanism by forcing an inverted funnel down over the pin, with the result that the pins are overturned or so shifted that the devices fail to reset pins in position accurately, o-r (b) interfere with the original pinsetting and storage devices and slow down the play beyond practical limits.

It is the primary object of the invention to 'provide' an off-spot pin-setting mechanism, arranged to coact with a primary pin-setting car- 'riage and secondary pin storage devices through whichpins are delivered to the carriage, so that 'the functioning of the pin resetting device will accomplish its purpose quickly and with precise accuracy, yet will not interfere with the working 'of the original pin-setting and storage mechatype disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 727,209, filed February '7,

119,47, is in nosense lessened but is, in fact, in-

creased to permit` rnaxirriurn` speed of operation,

whereby the device is suited to use on a busy alley and capable of permitting maximum play.`

Another object of the invention is to provide a resetting device adapted to lift pins by the narrow portion of the pin neck. This avoids the faults inherent in any mechanism exerting a cam action on the head of the pin, allows the pins to hang downwardly in straight, erect positions, so that they are repiaced with precision, allows the resetting mechanism to be positioned below the primary setting carriage and yet affords ample clearance between the resetting device and the surface oi' the alley, and uses the smallest possible diameter of the pin to lift it, so that the grasping devices operate at the point of maximum space between the pins and the area of the zone in which respotting can be done is materially increased.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a pin resetting mechanism having grasping devices adapted to advance across each pin position to engage any of the pins left standing after the first ball of the frame, with sensing means to interrupt the movement of the grasping devices independently as each of the devices engage the pin; so lthat the grasping devices will not overturn nor move the pins, but will engage -them in the exact position wherein they have come to rest.

A preferred embodiment of the inventive thought is disclosed in the following specification and the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a central sectional View of an automatic bowling alley mechanism, including a bowling alley of standard design and construction, together with a pin elevator, pinsweeping device, ball return and pin-setting mechanism having primary and secondary pin storage facilities; together with the off-spot pin-resetting 'devices with which this disclosure is specically concerned;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the auxiliary pin-resetting frame as contemplated by the present teaching, showing the relationship between the resetting frame of the present device and the lprimary pin-setting carriage'employed in my earlier application;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the off-spot pin-resettingframe, as employed by the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of one of the pin grasping mechanisms of the assembly of Figure 2; s

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the plane of the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view at right angles to Figure 5 and is taken substantially on the plane of the line 6-'3 of Figure 4;

Figure 'I is a plan View, partly in section, of one of the gripping rods of the mechanism, showing the relationship between the gripping rod and the sensing strip carried thereby;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure 'l in a changed position;

Figure 9 is a detail end view of one ofthe gripping rods and may be considered as taken on the plane of the line 9--9 of Figure 7*;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line w-Hl of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a'detail view of the pin stcpmechanism in one of the secondary storage chutes, and

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line |2|2 of Figure 11. Y A The mechanism contemplates a bowling alley I` ofl conventional construction and is for the purpose of automatically resetting the pins I2 on their proper spots II at the end of the alley. The usual padded backstop I!! is positioned in front of the rear wall l to denne a pit between the end of the alley and the rear wall, and a system of conveyor belts, represented by the belt 2|, is mounted on the oor of the pit to collect the pins. The pinsV are moved to a second conveyori from which they pass to any suitable elevator, such as generally represented at 1|. As shown, Vthis elevator includes a chain threaded Vover sprockets, 12,13, 14 and 1&5. The chain carries a number of pin-lifting members, each of Vwhich has a pin-grasping fork 89 so that the pins A of the sockets ||3 are filled. This secondary storage mechanism, shown in Figures 11 and 12, is more fully described in my earlier disclosure, but includes a pin stop '|36 mounted on an arm |35 pivoted at |36 to swing into or out of the path of a pin through the chute. The movement of the stop is controlled by a solenoid |31, the plunger of which is connected to the arm |35 by a link |38 extending between pivots |39 and I43. The solenoid |31 is energized through a contactor in the socket I3 at the end of the chute, so that the stop |3 is clear of the chute when the socket is empty. Thus the rst pin entering the chute passes directly to the primary storage device (the socket I3 in carriage |31), and energizes the solenoid |31 tostop the next pin entering the chute in the secondary storage chamber in the f chute itself. The weight of a pin I2 in the pin chute above one of the stops |312 rests on a switch lever |44 and actuates a switch M5 which is arranged to disengage the automatic tripping devices associated with the elevator chain, and thus prevent other pins fromY being dropped into a iilledV chute, until one setting operation has been completed and the pin in the chute has moveddown to the socket |13. The sockets ||3 lie in positions immediately above the several pin spots and are controlled by electrical solenoids |1, so that the pin-setting carriage may be bodily lowered on the shafts |23 to set the pins on the spots,

The present mechanism also contemplates the provision of some type of sweeping bar |40 which may be mounted on arms |43, and al ball hoist mechanism to deposit the ball on theinclined return track 49 so that it will roll back to the player in the usual manner.

The pin-resetting mechanism comprises an auxiliary frame 25 mounted on vertical slide rods 2d carried by and extending below the pin-setting carriage |91, and is` arranged for vertical movement between a lowered position (illustrated in full line in Figure 2), an intermediate position 25a, and a raised position 25h immediately below the carriagerlM. The frame may be raised and lowered by a pair of racks 23, secured to the frame by brackets 21 and extending upwardly to operative engagement with a pair of pinions 28 of lifting-motors 23, carried by the pin-setting carriage |01. The frame 25 preferably consists of a relatively thin sheet metal plate,l having a multiplicity of openings 3@ corresponding to and positioned directly above the positionsof the pin spots on which pins i2 normally rest. The openings 3i!` are of considerably greater diameter than the pins, so that the neck portions of the individual pins may project. through the openings of the plate when in its lowered position, even though the pin may be quite widely spaced away from the spot Y Y Y The mechanism Vwith which the present invenl tion is specifically concerned comprises means for grasping the neck of one of the pins at any position within the limitation of the opening 30, so that the pin will be lifted as the plate 25 is raised from its lowermost position into the intermediate position 25a and, after the down pins have been swept into the pit to clear the surf-ace of the alley, will be replaced in the precise position it previously occupied. To this end each of the openings Bil is provided with a pin grasping mechanism comprising a pair-of identical, but oppositely disposed, linkages each adapted to move a gripping barv across the opening until it engages the sur-V face ofthe pin or, if no pin isV there, engagesl the 'surface of the opposite gripping bar. To this end the plate is provided with a pair of Z-shaped slide bars 3|, having their lower flanges secured to the plate 25 and their upper flanges entering slots 32'inthe opposite ends of the gripping bars '33,V so that the bars 33j are in sliding relationship between the slides 3| and may be moved across the openings 3Q by a motor actuating a cross linkage. Each of the bars 33 is provided with pivots 3c at its opposite ends and a pair of links 35 extends from these pivots across each other and to pivots 3S carried on screw threaded ttings 31 of a rotatable screw 38. The screw is mounted for rotation in bearings 33, secured to the plate 25, andV is oppositely threaded at its opposite ends; so that rotation .in one direction brings the fittings 31toward1each other and rotation in the opposite direction draws them apart. The screws 3.8 may be drivenin any convenient manner, as by-the small torque motors ti, which are carried on brackets` 42 to support them above the screws and are coupled to the screws -by any suitable means, illustrated for convenience, as belt drive devices 13. Each of the bars 33 is slotted on the side opposite the links 35 and is provided with a 'sensing strip 45 extending substantially the entire length of' the tube and held in parallelism with the tube by a pair of parallel links 43 (Figure 7), so that it may move inwardly against the leaf springs 41, but will be maintained in parallel relationship with the surfaces of the tube (Figure 8). The sensing strip 45 is arranged so that when its leading edge engages the surface of the pin the strip will actuate an electrical switch 48, secured within the back wall of each of the tubes 33. As shown, the sensing strip is notched at the location of the switch to reduce the space required; and the switch is offset from the center of the bar sufficiently so that it may be fully withdrawn without striking the double screw mechanism or the motors driving it. As shown, the switch 48 includes two pairs of contacts 5I and 52, so that a circuit for advancing the bars 33 toward the pin may be completed through the contacts 5| until the sensing strip 45 strikes the pin and opens the switch. The contacts 52 are then closed, so that after the standing pins have been lifted and reset, a second circuit may be closed through the motors to drive them in reverse direction and withdraw the grasping mechanism from engagement in the necks of the standing pins.

In the operation of the device, the pins are set by lowering the carriage |01 to the surface of the alley and energizing the solenoids II1 of the sockets l I3 to open all sockets and place a pin on each spot I I. During this time the pin resetting frame is held in position close against the bottom of the pin setting carriage Iil1 and performs no function. After the iirst ball, however, the lifting motors 29 are energized to lower the auxiliary frame 25 to its full line position (Figure 2) Wherein the openings 30 assume positions over the necks of any of the pins remaining standing. The motors 4I are now energized to draw the ttings 31 toward each other, and these function through the links 35 to advance the bars 33 in parallel movement across each of the openings 3U until the bars 33 either engage the neck of a pin extending through the opening or strike the opposing bar. If a pin is standing in the opening, it will be engaged initially by the forward edge of one of the sensing strips 45. These are held for- Ward by extremely light springs, however, so

`that they exert only a feather-like touch on the ling of the sensing strip and switch -will be insufcient to tip the pins or dislodge them from their precise position, whether on the spot I I or in some off-spot position. Thus, if a given pin is closer to one side of the opening than to the other,

it will rst be contacted by the' bar having the shorter distance to move and will immediately interrupt the movement of that bar, although the Vsimilar bar on the opposite side will continue to advance until it also engages the neck of the pin on the opposite side (Figure 4). It is also to be noted that 'even though the pin is in some offspot position diagonal of its proper spot II, yet it is nevertheless engaged at diametrically opposed points of its surface, so that when it is lifted there is no tendency for it to shift from -its exact position with respect to the spot. Thus,

it will be clear that the pins remaining standing 6 after the rst ball will be engaged on the opposite sides of the narrowest portion of the pin neck and, when the plate 25 is raised, will be lifted from the surface of the alley to the dotted line position of Figure 2. Since the gripping bars engage the pin neck at its narrowest point it is unnecessary for the bars to clamp against the surface of the pins with any degree of force to eiiiect a rm grasp. On the Contrary, they need merely to touch the opposite sides ofthe pin, as the weight of the pin and the tapering shape of the neck will cause it to be firmly gripped, as the rack moves upwardly.

After the rack has been lifted to the position 25a, the sweep bar 40 on the arms |45 is moved downwardly to the surface of the alley and drawn rearwardly across the pin spots to sweep any down pins into the pit. The sweep bar then returns to its original position, and the frame 25 is lowered to the full line position. A circuit is now completed through the contacts 52 to drive the motors 4I in reverse direction and withdraw the tubes 33 to their initial positions. This releases the pins, and the rack 25 may now be elevated to the position 25h immediately below the carriage |01. The alley is now in condition for the second ball of the frame.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the teachings of the present invention provide a means for accomplishing off-spot resetting of pins in a standard bowling alley by an automatic bowling alley mechanism, so that any pin which may have been knocked away from its original spot, but not actually overturned, is lifted as the down pins are swept from the alley and is replaced in the precise position from which it was lifted. This not only makes possible resetting pins in precise off-spot position, but further increases the utility of the mechanism by lifting the pins remaining standing upwardly from their spot positions and replacing them immediately after functioning of the sweep bar, so that it is entirely unnecessary to lower the main pin setting carriage I01or release pins from the carriage before the second ball of the frame.

The form of the invention here disclosed and illustrated in the attached drawings represents the present preferred commercial embodiment of these teachings, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications in the precise structure shown may be resorted to without departing from the inventive concept, nor sacrificing all of the advantages inherent in the invention; and it is accordingly pointedout that the scope of the invention is notlimited to the precise structure disclosed, but extends with equal force to any variation or modification thereof coming within the terms of the'appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a pin-resetting mechanism for bowling alleys, in combination, a pin-setting carriage including primary pin storage devices; secondary pin storage devices above said carriage;v means to shift said carriage between an upper loading position adjacent said secondary pin storage devices and a lower setting position close to the alley surface; a resetting frame under said 'carriage with openings in the frame whereby pins may be set through the frame by the setting devices of the carriage; said resetting frame be* ing separate from and movable independently ci the alley surface;

atomes said carriage but normally positioned immediately below and in contact with the carriage and adapted to move with the carriage in the pinsetting operation; means to shift the resetting frame downwardy with respect to the carriage to bring the frame to a resetting position close to the alley surface while the carriage remains in its=upper loading position; gripper means carried by the frame adjacent each of its openings to engage the neck of a pin thereunder, and means to lift the frame to an intermediate position while retaining the carriage in its upper loading position whereby the carriage may receive pins from thesecondary storage means as the 'esettingI operation progresses, and the pins standing on the` alley are' lifted from the surface of the alley and suspended from their necks to permit the down pins to be swept into the pit.

2. In a pin-resetting mechanism for bowling alleys, in combination, a pin-setting carriage, means to shift said carriage between an upper loading position and a lower setting position, and a resetting frame under said carriage with openings in the frame whereby pins may be set through the frame by the setting devices of the carriage; saidY resetting frame being separate from and movable independently or said carriage but normally positioned immediately below and incontact withy the carriage and adapted to move with'the carriage in the pin-setting operation; means to shift the resetting frame downwardly with respect to the carriage to bring the frame to a resetting position close to the alley surface while the carriage remains in its upper loading position; gripper means carried by the frame adjacent each or" its openings and constructed and arranged to grasp the necks of the standing pins at any point within a zone around the pin spot and to suspend the pins by their necks above the alley, to permit the down pins to be swept into the pit and'to thereafter reset the suspended pins in the precise positions from which they were lifted'.`

3; In an automatic pin-setting mechanism for bowling alleys; in combination, a pinnsetting carriage; means to s i it i. Jd carriage between an upper loading posit-ion ced substantialiy abo-fe the alley surface and a setting position closely adjacent the alley surface; a pii reset i' l anism. including a frame positioned imnie ately below the pinsetting age with apeiuoiy es in saldi frame through which pinsifroin the carriage maybe set on the alley; means to move said frame downwardly with respect to the carriage t-o a resetting position adjacent the level of the necks of pins standing in the alley; gripping means on said resetting frame constructed and arranged to engager-pins standing thereunder; meansto raise said resetting frame and retain it in an intermediate position above the resetting position but spaced below the pinmseting carriage to suspend the pins gripped thereby above 'the surface of the alley and permit the dorm pins-to be swept into the pit; andineans to thereafter lower said resetting frame and release the 4. In an automatic pin-setting mechanism 'for bowling alleys, in combinatie-11, a pinesetting carriage; means to shift said carriage between a setting position immediately above the alley surface and a loading position spaced substantial-ly above an auxiliary pin-resetting mechanism including a frame normallyV positioned immediately below the pin-setting car.-

lage with. aperturesinsaid franiejthroughwhich pins. from thelcarriage may ybe set on the. alley; meansto move said frame downwardly from the carriage-.tolposition the frame at a point adjacent the neckv portions of the pins standing on the alley while the carriage remains in itsv loading position; gripper means on the resetting frame to engage the. necks ci standing pins at. any point within a. Zonearonnd each oi the pinv spots; saidV gripper means comprisingv a pair of grippingbars each adapted to engage. the neck of a pin; each gripping bar having a separate and independently operable mechanism including a screw threaded. device to advance it toward the pin ,neck whereby the bars, move toward the pin from two opposite sides, and each moves independently of the :notion of` the other; means to interrupt'the advancing movement oi` the Yindividual gripping bars, and, means to raise the resetting frame to. an intermediate, position above the height of: a: pin and substantially below the. loading position of the setting carriage to lift thestandingpins from the surface of` the alley to permit the down pins to be swept into thepit; and, means to thereafter lower said frame and release said gripper means to reset the pinsleit standing .in the precise Vposi-V tions from which they were lifted.

5. In an automatic pin-setting' mechanism for bowling alleys, in combination, a pin-setting carriage including primary pinstorage devices; means to convey pins from the it of the alley to theY pinsetting carriage including secondary pin storage means; an auxiliary pin-resetting mechanism including a frame positioned below the pin-setting carriage with apertures in` said irai/ne through which pins from the carriage'rnay be set on the alley;r means tov move said frame downwardly from the carriage to a point adjacent to the pins standing on the alley; gripper means on the resetting frame to engage standing pins at any point within a zone: around each of the pin spots; said gripper means comprising a plurality of gripping bars earch adapted to engage the neck of; a pin; each gripping .barhaving a separate and independently operable mecha nism to advance it toward the pin neck whereby the bars move toward the pin from different sides, and each movesindependentlyrof the motion of the other; sensing means comprising a contact strip positioned in the leading edge of each of the bars to bear against the surfaceof the pin at the moment oi engagement; means responsive to the actuation ofV each of the contact strips to interrupt the advancing movement of the individual gripping bar byv which `it is carried; andY means to raise and lower the resetting frame to lift the standing pins from the surface of the alley to permit the down pins to be swept into the pit, and to thereafter reset the pins lef-t standing inthe precise positionsfrom which they were lifted.

6. In an automatic pin-setting mechanism for bowlingalleys, in combination, a pin-setting carriage including primary pin storage means holding oney pin for each pin position of the alley, seoondarypin storageA mechanism above saidV carriage holding one additional pin for each pin position; means to shift said carriage betweenan upper loading position immediately below said secondary storage means and a setting position spaced substantially below said secondary storage means and closely above the alley'surface; a ,pin-resetting mechanism includinga frame posi;- tioned immediately belowl the pin-setting carriage with aperturesin said frame through which pins from the carriage may .be set on the alley; means to move said frame downwardly with respect to the carriage to a resetting position adjacent the level of the necks of pins standing in the alley while the carriage is in its upper loading position wherein it may receive pins from said secondary storage means; gripping means on said resetting frame constructed and arranged to engage pins standing thereunder; means to raise said resetting frame and retain it in an intermediate position above the resetting position but spaced below the pin-setting carriage to suspend the pins gripped thereby above the surface of the alley and permit the down pins to be swept into the pit; and means to thereafter lower said resetting frame and release the gripping means thereof to reset the suspended .pins on the alley surface.

7. In an automatic pin-setting mechanism for bowling alleys, in combination, a pin-setting carriage including primary pin storage means holding one pin for each pin position of the alley, secondary pin storage mechanism above said carriage holding one additional pin for each pin position; means to shift said carriage between an upper loading .position immediately below said secondary storage means and a setting position spaced substantially below said secondary storage means and closely above the alley surface; a pin-resetting mechanism including a frame positioned immediately below the pin-setting carriage with apertures in said frame through which pins from the carriage may be set on the alley; means to move said frame downwardly away from the carriage and position the apertures therein over the necks of pins standing in the alley While the carriage is in its upper loading position wherein it may receive pins from said secondary storage means; gripping means on said resetting frame comprising a plurality of gripping bars each adapted to engage the neck of a pin; each gripping bar having a separate and independently operable mechanism to advance it toward the .pin neck whereby the bars move toward the pin from different sides, and each moves independently of the motion of the other; sensing means comprising a contact strip positioned in the leading edge of each of the bars to bear against the surface of the pin at the moment of engagement; means responsive to the actuation of each of the contact strips to interrupt the advancing movement of the individual gripping bar by ywhich it is carried; and means to raise and lower the resetting frame to lift the standing ins from the surface of the alley to permit the down pins to be swept into the pit, and to thereafter reset the pins left standing in the precise positions from which they were lifted.

8. In an automatic pin-setting mechanism for bowling alleys, in combination, a pin-setting carriage; means to shift said carriage between an upper' loading position spaced substantially above the alley surface and a setting position closely adjacent the alley surface; a pin-resetting mechanism including a frame positioned immediately below the pin-setting carriage with apertures in said frame through which pins from the carriage may be set on the alley; means to move said frame downwardly with respect to the carriage to a resetting position adjacent the level of pins standing in the alley; gripping means on said resetting frame constructed and arranged to engage pins standing thereunder; means to raise said resetting frame and retain it in an intermediate position above the resetting position but spacedbelow the pin-setting carriage to suspend the pins gripped thereby above the surface of the alley and permit the down pins to be swept into the pit; and means to thereafter lowerI said resetting frame and release the gripping means thereof to reset the suspended pins on the alley surface.

ARTHUR M. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,584,030 Gray May 11, 1926 1,896,384 White et al. Feb. 7, 1933 2,283,613 Schmidt May 19, 1942 2,300,802 Parra et a1. Nov. 3, 1942 2,353,189 Rundell July 11, 1944 

